Turbine-blower.



W. McLAvE. TURBINE BLOWER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27.1914.

v Llm. Patented De.2s,1915.

2 sHEETs-sHEer 2,

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y www3 WILLIAM: MGCLAVE, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLJ'ANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 llIcCLAVE-BROKS COMPANY, OF SGRANTOII, PENNSYLVANIA, A CGRPORATION OE PENNSYLVANA.

Application filed July 27, 1914.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, l/VILLIAM McCn-ivn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rlurbine- Blowers; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the characters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to blowers of the type characterized by the turbine peripherally located on the fan and adapted to be driven by elastic fluid confined against intermingling with the air being forced.

Among the objects in view is the obtaining of maximum etliciency from a structure embodying radially projecting buckets disposed to be actuated by the impact and reaction of elastic fluid projected insubstantially axial jets against the buckets.

A further object in view is the suppression of sound usually accompanying the operation of turbine blowers.

llfith these and other objects in view,`as will in part become apparent and in part be stated, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and a rangements of parts as will be hereinafter specifled and claimed.

Certain features illustrated herein, but not claimed, are claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 853,401, filed July 27, 1914.

ln the accompanying drawings,-Figure l is a view in front elevation of astructure embodying the features of the present invention, parts being broken away and parts being seen in section. F ig. 2 is a vertical, central section taken on the plane indicated by line 2 2 of Fig. 1, parts being seen in elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail section taken on the plane indicated by line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and looking downwardly, a fragment only cf the turbine and casing being seen. Fig. 4 is a detail cross section through the spider arm provided with the oil duct.` Figs. 5, (3 and 7 are fragmentary, detail, sectional views through the spider and fan hubs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

Serial No. 853,462.

Referring to the drawings by numerals. 1 indicates a cylindrical casing hai/ing at its outer end an annular enlargement forming a housing 2 reinforced by fillets 3, 3 at various points about the casing. Formed integral with housing 2 and outstanding radially therefrom and extending circumferentially thereof are conduits 4, 4, having their upper end portions terminating spaced apart at the upper portion of the housing 2 and having an intermediate portion of the material forming the conduits 4 provided with a port 5 terminating short of the upper ends of the bores of conduits 4. Pressure fluid supplied pipes 6, 6 communicate with the port 5 and with the respective conduits 4 and are provided with controlling valves 7. Each of the conduits 4 extends for approximately one-third of the circumference of housing 2, and a substantially Btl-shaped tube 8 is provided for each conduit 4 and for port 5, the said tubes heilig spaced substantially equidistant about the housing 2 and each communicating at its outer end with the respective port or conduit. An annular plate 9 is fixed to and closes the front of housing 2, the said plate being secured by bolts 10 or otherwise to the housing. Each tube S is preferably a casting but may be otherwis formed and is provided at each end with lateral ears 11 bolted or otherwise fixed respectively to the material of conduits 4 and to plgate 9, the several tubes S extending through plate 9 and thus opening directly axially into housing 2.

A fan sustaining spider is provided and consists preferably of radial arms 12, 12 formed integral with or appropriately fixed to plate 9 and terminating at their inner ends in a hub 18 in which is journaled the shaft of blower fan 14. The fan 14 consists of blades whose structure and pitch are proportioned to the volumerof air to be forced relative to the speed of rotation, and at the outer end of the blades the fan is provided with a preferably integral rim 15, whose periphery is preferably cylindrical. The inner diameter of plate 9 is less than the inner diameter of casing 1, and rim 15 extends substantially from the inner face of plate 9 to the annular shoulder of casing 1 produced by the radial offset formed by the wall of housing 2. To eliminate abrupt corners or shoulders along the path of the air being forced, the inner surface of rim 15 is inwardly flared so as to present a diameter at its outer edge equal substantially to the inner diameter of plate 9, while the inner edge of the inner surface of rim 15 is of a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of casing 1.

Fixed to the periphery of rim 15 is a cylindrical plate or ring 16. and formed integral with or appropriately fixed to ring 1G are the radially extending buckets 17, concaved to receive the impact of the pressure fluid jets approaching substantially axially from the several tubes S. Each tube 8 is provided with a contracted nozzle 3 for directing the power fluid effectively. The thus formed turbine is located within housing 2 and the inner portion of the housing is closed radially by rim 15 which prevents access of the pressure fluid to the casing 1, and an exhaust pipe 17 communicates with housing 2 for leading the exhaust fluid therefrom.

Blades 14 are formed integral with, or appropriately fixed to the hub 18 which abuts against portions of hub 13 at its outer end and at its inner end is provided with a conical nut 19. A shaft 20 is threaded into nut 19 and is keyed to hub 13 by a radial key 21 extending transversely through the hub and shaft. An annulus 22 surrounds shaft 20 and engages the inner end of hub 13 for preventing loss of lubricant. the annulus being engaged by rods or plungers 23 extending longitudinally through hub 1S and at their inner ends engaging a ring 24 axially movably mounted in an annular recess 25 formed in nut 19. lling 24 is preferably L-shaped in cross section and is engaged by a helical spring 26 tensioned to maintain annulus 22 seated against the inner end of hub 13.

A bearing sleeve 27 surrounds shaft 2O Within hub 13 throughout the reduced bore of the hub and extends from annulus 22 to an annulus 23 surrounding the shaft 2O in the outer portion of the hub where the bore of the hub is enlarged for accommodating a thrust bearing. An annular flange 29 is formed integral with shaft 20 and is spaced inwardly from the outer end of the shaft a distance sufficient to exactly accommodate a race way 30 which is disposed to cooperate with a similar race way 31 spaced longitudinally therefrom. Ball bearings 32 are disposed between and engage the race ways 30 and 31 and form the thrust bearing of shaft 20. Race way 31 is retained in position by a nut 33 threaded into the outer portion of the bore of hub 13. l

lVhile element 33 has been referred to as a. nut and may be a mere cap screw, it preferably consists of a threaded shank of a silencer cap 34. rlhe cap 34 is constructed of a hollow body having converging walls incurved to meet the outer portion of hub 13, the walls of the hub continuing the incurve of the cap and producing of the whole a campanulatel body which, while preventing direct axial approach, does not interfere with free access of air to the fan, and in operation is found to materially reduce the sound otherwise produced by the inrush of the air. The detail formation of the contacting parts of cap 34 with hub 13 is of course susceptible of a wide range of variation, and a desirable form is indicated in Fig. 2 in which the hub is provided with an annular shoulder 35 leaving a projecting end portion 36 which is surrounded by a socket 37 formed in the inner end of cap 34 and provided with the threaded shank 33. rlhe outer edge of socket 37 fits snugly against shoulder 35 for avoiding any notch or projection in the length of the continuous 1ncurve of the walls of cap 34 and hub 13.

A lubricant supply cup or container 38 is arranged at sufficient elevation to insure effective gravity feed, and communicates through a pipe 39 with a port 40 extending longitudinally of one of the arms 1.2 and terminating in an oil groove 41 formed longitudinally in the hub 13. The shaft 20 is formed with an axial bore extending from the front end of the shaft to the plane of the rear end of hub 13. A port 43 leads from groove 41 radially throughsleeve 27 and the wall of shaft 20 to the bore 42 thereof, and the shaft 2O is provided with a se 1ies of ports 44 extending radially from the central bore to bearing sleeve 27. Sleeve 27 is formed with an inclined notch 45 at its inner end registering with a similar notch. in hub 3 and adapted to register with one of the ports 44 successively during rotation of shaft 20, whereby oil is fed between annulus 22 and the inner end of hub 13. An inclined notch 46 is formed in annulus 28 'n position for registration with one of ports for del ivering lubricant between 'the annulus and the inner face of flange 29. Groove 41 is offset in the hub 13 and extends about annulus 28, flange 29 and race way 30 so as to deliver lubricant directly to the bearings 3u. rThe supply of oil thus delivered to and past bearings 32 under certain conditions would be ample for supplying bore 42, but in view of the rapid rotation of shaft 20 it is preferable also to have the direct delivery through port 43.

Each tube 8 is preferably provided at its lower-most point with a pet cock 47 for draining water of condensation when the operation of the blower is discontinued.

The operation should be obvious from the foregoing and consists brieflv in supplying steam or other elastic power fluid by turning on valves 7, and delivering said fluid through the nozzles 8 to buckets 1'?. The impact and reaction of the fluid impart rapid rotation to the turbine and fan. Air is thus drawn by the fan in through plate 9 about the cainpanulato central body, the conical nut 19 completing the body and allowing convergence ofthe inflowing air with little or no resistance. The blower operates with considerably less sound than is customarily given off by the ordinary blower which not only adds to the comfort of those who find it necessary to be or remain near the blower, but also indicates a reduction in friction.

rEhe spider arins l2 are, as clearly seen in F ig. 2, set outside of the plane of the outer face of plate 9 and the power fluid passages are arranged radially outside of housing 2, whereby a clear space is left between the flat inner face of plate 9 and the opposite radial wall of housing 2, and riin l5 is fitted in said space.`

lWhat l claim is l. ln a turbine blower, the combination of a casing haring an annular housing and conduits fornied integral with the housing and outstanding ra diallv therefrom and extending circuinferentially thereof, a rotary fan disposed to force air into the casing, a turbine inthe housing and connected with `the fan for rotating the saine, and U-shaped tubes spaced about the housing, each coin- Inunicating with a conduit and with the housing, the communication with the housing being on a line for directing power fluid axially into contact 7ith the turbine.

ln a turbine blower, the combination of a casingharing an annular housing and a conduit outstanding radially therefrom and extending circuinferentially of the housing, a rotary fan disposed t fo ce air into the ca `n a turbine connected i h the fan and havn bucirets extending into the housing, a tlshaped tube extending from the side of the conduit to and Vcoininunicating through the lside of the housing for deliveringpower il iid to the turbine buckets, and ineans for supplying power' fluid to the conduit.

3. In a turbine blower. the combination of an annular housing haring a port spaced radially outwaii'dly of the housing, a. rotary fan, a. turbine connected with the fan and extending into the housing, and a, ll-shaped tube coininunicating` laterally with the port and with the housing and disposed for directing its discharge axially into the housing` for actuating the turbine.

4f. ln turbine blower, the combination with a casing having a radially outstanding annular housing open axially away from the casing and radially inwardly, a substantially flat annular plate closing the axial opening of the housing, spider carried by the plate outside of the plane of the inner ln a turbine blower, the combination with ay casing, of a spider connected thereto and haring an axial hub, a rotary fan ournaled in said hub, a turbine for driving the fan, and a silencing cap engaging the outer end of the hub, the cap and hub having their walls converging inwardly and incurved to forni a campanulate body for obstructing direct axial access of air to the fau while leaving.; lateral approaches unobstructed.

G. ln a turbine blower', the combination with a raising, of a spider connected thereto and having an axial hub, a rotary fan journaled in said hub, a turbine for driving the fan, and an enlarged cap for the outer end of the hub disposed to interrupt direct axial access of aii` to the fan.

In a turbine blower, the combination with a casing, of a spider connected thereto, and haring an axial hub, a rotary fan journaled in said hub, a turbine for drivingthe fan, and a :ap en gaging the outer end or the hub and flaring longitudinally outwardly tlierei''roin, the longitudinal walls of the cap being inclu-ved.

8. ln a turbine blower, the combination with a casing, of a spider connected thereto and having an axial hub, a rotary fan journal -d in said hub, a turbine for driving the fa., the outer end portion of the hub being formed with an annular shoulder and a reduced extension, and an enlarged cap having its inner end engaging said shoulder and forined with an axial socket receiving the reduced extension of the hub and having a threaded shank threaded into said extenn sion.

9. in a, turbine blower, the combination, with a rotary fan and turbine for actuating the saine, of an axial shaft for the fan, a iixed hub in which the shaft is journaled, the shaft having an annular flange, annular race ways spaced apart, one of said race ways be- D arried by the hub and the other engag- .he dan and surrounding the shaft, said race ways being spaced axially, and bearings disposed between and engaged by the race ways, the hub being forined with an oil groove extending along the shaft about the flange and into direct communication with the space between the race ways, and with oil supply uuct communicating with the Groove, and the shaft being axially bored and provided with a port adapted to register with the groove.

l0. ln a turbine blower, the combination, with ay rotary fan and a turbine for actuatngthe fan, of a xed hub, a shaft for the the annali, and means for supplying lubrivfan journalecl in the hub, an annulus surcant to the bore.

ljoundng the shaft Ileal each end portion 'of HLLAM MCCLAVE the hub, the shaft belng formed Wlth a serles Y of radial ports and a longitudinal bore com- Wltnesses:

muneatng with all the ports, some of the MAX F. HENKELMAN,

ports being disposed to deliver lubricant to Reuse H. HARRIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

